What drug is meant here?

[restin]

The following text is by the famous German Romantic Poet, Novalis. This is the second part of his poems, Hymns to the Night. There are some allusion to drugs, in the first parts and here. There is the numeration of three drugs one of them I do not know what it is. So please read this wonderful poem and if you know which drug is meant, please say so.

"II.
Must the morning always return? Will the despotism of the earthly never cease? Unholy activity consumes the angel-visit of the Night. Will the time never come when Love's hidden sacrifice shall burn eternally? To the Light a season was set; but everlasting and boundless is the dominion of the Night. -- Endless is the duration of sleep. Holy Sleep -- gladden not too seldom in this earthly day-labor, the devoted servant of the Night. Fools alone mistake thee, knowing nought of sleep but the shadow which, in the twilight of the real Night, thou pitifully castest over us. They feel thee not in the golden flood of the grapes -- in the magic oil of the almond tree -- and the brown juice of the poppy. They know not that it is thou who hauntest the bosom of the tender maiden, and makest a heaven of her lap -- never suspect it is thou, opening the doors to Heaven, that steppest to meet them out of ancient stories, bearing the key to the dwellings of the blessed, silent messenger of secrets infinite. "

 

[Forkbender]

Wikipedia:

"Oleum Amygdalae", the fixed oil, is prepared from either variety of almond and is a glyceryl oleate, with a slight odour and a nutty taste. It is almost insoluble in alcohol but readily soluble in chloroform or ether. It may be used as a substitute for olive oil.

The sweet almond oil is obtained from the dried kernel of the plant. This oil has been traditionally used by massage therapists to lubricate the skin during a massage session, being considered by many to be an effective emollient. It is a mild, lightweight oil, rich in unsaturated fats and essential fatty acids which is easily absorbed into the skin. Used to make many natural skin care products, it is very high in omega-3. Almond oil is also used as a wood conditioner of certain woodwind instruments such as the oboe and clarinet.

doesn't really say anything, but still.

 

[GOD]

"magic oil of the almond tree"

Is not a drug .

Ever heard of "Poetic license" ?

 

[restin]

They feel thee not in the golden flood of the grapes -- in the magic oil of the almond tree -- and the brown juice of the poppy

grapes --> wine --> alcohol
poppy --> opium

I think if there is before and afterwards an allusion to a drug that this is also one.

What do you think it is then? Random words?

 

[Forkbender]

by the same token:

grapes -> wine
poppy -> opium
almond -> x?

grapes and poppies are no metaphores, so why would almond be one?

 

[restin]

I initially thought that there may be a drug made out of almond. I saw your first post, Fork, but I didn't know what to answer. Seems to stay an unsolved question, never mind, thanks.

 

[Pariah]

Isn't the poem talking about life and death as well as night and day? If so almond oil may have some reference to embalming - wine for life and being awake, oil for the transistion between life and death (embalming,cleaning / relaxing before bed as well?), and opium for death / sleep. Is the poet talking about wanting to die?

Just some thoughts...

 

[restin]

I really like your idea.
The probable problem in what you say is that wine is also sedative and is also associated with a dream-like state...
This poem I think is not talking about wanting to die...it is talking about personal enlightenment, embracement with night, sexual desires.

 

[GOD]

"What do you think it is then? Random words?"

= Poetic license .

JFC guys . Almonds dont have any recreational drugs in them . And who gets embalmed in almond oil ????

 

[restin]

poetic licence still has a meaning...but nevermind.

 

[GOD]

I dont understand what you mean Restin ?

Poetic license also includes making words up , they dont have to have a meaning .

You are the one asking why . So WHY ? What significance has almond oil ? Why is it in the middle of a list of drugs when it isnt a drug ? How would the peom flow if it wasnt there ? Can you think of anything that would be more apropriate ........ and fit in the space ?

Maybe he hadnt got a clue what he was talking about . Maybe his generation thought that almond oil was a drug .





Or maybe its a 2012 / 119 conspiracy...........

 

[Pariah]

Yeah good point, the sedation thing did cross my mind, I just figured wine (alcoholic or not) is associated with merry making and joy more than it is with sluggishness in comparison to the other subsances mentioned.

As for who gets embalmed in almond oil: people living in the (18th?) century I would imagine - it works the same way as olive oil, cedar oil etc - its used to stop the dried out skin becoming brittle and easly broken I think... also I'm pretty sure the egyptians used it... but may be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure they didn't have formaldehyde back then.

Perhaps its a multiple association -

Baseness, sexual union/love, enlightenment (god?)
Life, embalming, Death
Waking, transition, sleep

again, just throwing ideas out there, I'm probably way off.

Perfectly logical that its just the poet making up something that sounds good, although the romantics were usually a bit more interesting - the more intellegent ones at least, liked using symbolism. That is, if I have my art history correct.

 

[GOD]

Guys......

If green were blue red might be yellow ? Or if not why not ?

Why does it say the almond bit after the wine bit and before the opium bit ? Why havent women got 6 tits ?

 

[Pariah]

Our Father who art in amerika,
Hallowed be thy socks,
Thy dictatorship come,
Thy will be done,
In Europe as it is in Amerika,
Give us this day our daily weed,
And forgive us our imagination,
As we forgive those who seek to express their opinion,
And lead us not into esoteric insanity,
But deliver us from new age bull shit.

For yours is the dictatorship,
The unquestionable and the inflexble,
until 2012,
Amen

 

[Forkbender]

not a masterpiece, but i guess you got a poetic licence to cover that.

 

[restin]

Even if poems don't have a logical explanation (especially romanticism) they always have a deep meaning. If you try to analyze a poem point by point you are making an error, agreed, but if you say that the poet just wanted to say something you are wrong too. Romanticism is not Art pour l'Art, it is an era of Soul and deeper sense. Read the first part of hymns of the Night (in German!). It is not just bla bla poetical freedom bla bla, it is far more. And there basically IS an explanation why women don't have 6 tits.

 

[GOD]

So now youve all given up trying to answer the original questions and now your arguing against me ?

Ofer sensible answers to the original question .

 

[mysticwarrior]

So now youve all given up trying to answer the original questions and now your arguing against me ?

Ofer sensible answers to the original question .

Maybe you brought your self in that position??

 

[restin]

If I knew any I wouldn't ask at the first place :wink: I just looked at some photos of almond trees and they are very beautiful. I could imagine sitting under an almond tree, smelling its fresh odour (do they smell good?) and feeling as if unwinding oil was touching my skin, with a glass of wine, feeling absolute peace...but I still wanna argue with you :wink:

 

[Forkbender]

I think you guys are all narcs. How do you sleep at night? Oh, right, it must have been the boring poems about death.


:shock:


Shit, I blew our cover.